The President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, has voiced his apprehension regarding the erosion of Ghana’s moral and democratic foundations due to entrenched inequality, corruption, and persistent acts of violence.
During the opening ceremony of the 2025 Plenary Assembly of the GCBC, which took place at the Unity Centre in Damongo on Monday, November 10, 2025, Most Rev. Gyamfi remarked that although Ghana is globally recognized as a symbol of democracy and peace, this esteemed reputation conceals a disturbing undercurrent of moral and social decline.
“Ghana is still regarded as a beacon of democracy and peace in West Africa. However, beneath this lauded facade lies a complicated reality characterized by inequality, corruption, and recurring violence that jeopardize the moral fabric of our society,” he stated.
In addressing the challenges of political tensions and electoral violence, he pointed out that despite the nation’s commendable history of nine successful general elections and four peaceful transitions of power since 1992, recent elections have unveiled an increase in political intolerance and violence.
“The 2024 elections revealed significant fractures in our political culture. Independent observers characterized them as among the most violent since the inception of the Fourth Republic. Police reports indicated 106 arrests related to post-election disturbances, several fatalities, and numerous injuries. Democracy devoid of conscience is, however, precarious; without truth and justice, it risks devolving into mere ritual rather than a process of renewal,” he warned.
His remarks come in the context of ongoing investigations into election-related violence that occurred between 2020 and 2024.
It is noteworthy that the government has instructed the Ministry of the Interior to investigate all instances of electoral violence documented during that timeframe.
On November 4, 2025, the Minister for the Interior, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, provided an update indicating that 21 individuals have been identified as suspects in relation to the deaths of 15 individuals and injuries sustained by 40 others during the general elections held in 2020 and 2024.
The Minister stated that four of the suspects are currently out on bail, while five others are still in custody as legal proceedings are ongoing. Arrest warrants have been issued for the remaining suspects, who are actively being sought by law enforcement agencies.
He highlighted that the arrests and the continuing prosecutions reflect the government’s dedication to ensuring accountability and justice for the victims of electoral violence.
Most Rev. Gyamfi’s comments highlight the increasing concern of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference regarding the political climate in Ghana and its moral implications for the future of the nation’s democracy.
